MySource:BobC/Legends of Fort Mountain

Legends of Fort Mountain

By David Tibbs, 2008

This marker tells the tale of these two legends that surround the fort, located near the stone tower.

"Legends of Fort Mountain: The Moon-Eyed People" Marker

The Moon-Eyed People

While some legends equate the moon-eyed people with the descendants of Prince Madoc, Cherokee legends tell of the moon-eyed people that inhabited the Southern Highlands before they arrived. These people are said to have been unable to see during certain phases of the moon. During one of these phases, the Creek people annihilated the race. Some believe these moon-eyed people built the fortifications on this mountain.

Other versions of the Cherokee legend tell about people with fair skin, blond hair, and blue eyes that occupied the mountain areas until Cherokee invaders finally dispersed them. Some tales said the moon-eyed people could see in the dark, but were nearly blind in daylight. Other legends describe them as albinos.

Delaware Indian legend tells of their migration eastward from the far west and meeting a race of very tall, robust, light-skinned people they called the Allegewi, until they prevailed with the support of the Iroquois, who were also moving eastward. Some surviving Allegewi went to Cherokee territory and stayed with them for a time and are remembered as Tlvni Kula, "moon eyed" people, who were tall, fair-skinned, with light hair and grey eyes, and carried strange weapons and tools.

"Legends of Fort Mountain: Prince Madoc of Wales" Marker

Prince Madoc of Wales

Welsh and Cherokee legends coincide here on Fort Mountain. Welsh legends tell of Prince Madoc, who sailed first to Mobile Bay in 1170 AD. After a brief exploration, Madoc returned to Wales, only to sail again for the New World with numerous settlers in a fleet of ships. They never returned to Wales. In the New World, they built stone forts, including this one on Fort Mountain, and warred with the local Cheyenne before deciding to move west sometime around 1186 AD. Madoc's travels, first told in print about 1584, had been told in Welsh songs and stories since the twelfth century.

In 1782, ninety-year-old Cherokee chief Oconostota told John Seiver of Tennessee about the Welsh who had once "...crossed the Great Water and landed first near the mouth of the Alabama River near Mobile..." Oconostota told that these whites had built the fortifications in this country. Other American legends tell of encounters with indians who possessed pale eyes, red hair, beards, and spoke Welsh.

Legend attributes three stone forts to Prince Madoc's people. One near DeSoto Falls, Alabama, is said to be nearly identical to the setting, layout, and method of construction of Dolwyddelan Castle in Wales, the birthplace of Madoc. From Alabama, Madoc moved to this site and hastily constructed these fortification. Retreating from Fort Mountain, these Welsh settlers built minor fortifications in the Chattanooga area before moving to the Duck River near Manchester, Tennessee, and building the fortifications now known as the Old Stone Fort.

Legends of Fort Mountain Markers

Close Up of Oconostota, a Cherokee Chief

Map of Indian Tribes

Dolwyddelan Castle Wales, home of Prince Madoc

Fort Mountain Trail Map

Erected

Erected in 1968 by Georgia Department of State Parks.

Location

Coordinates 34° 46.872′ N, 84° 42.564′ W. Marker is in Chatsworth, Georgia, in Murray County. Marker can be reached from Old Fort Road, on the right when traveling south. Click for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Fort Mountain State Park, Chatsworth, GA 30705, United States of America.

The marker is located within Fort Mountain State Park. A day use fee is charged to enter the park.

A campground, as well as cabins are available. Also located in the park is a lake and swim beach, miniature golf, paddle boats and many picnic areas and trails.

Other nearby markers

At least 8 other markers are within 11 miles of this marker, as the crow flies. Fort Mountain State Park (about 600 feet away, in a direct line); Mystery Shrouds Fort Mountain (approx. 0.2 miles away); Murray County (approx. 3.6 miles away); Springplace Mission (approx. 6.2 miles away); Chief Vann House (approx. 6.5 miles away); John Howard Payne (approx. 6.5 miles away); Old Federal Road (approx. 6.5 miles away); Old Holly Creek P.O. (approx. 10.6 miles away). Click for a list of all markers in Chatsworth.

Link to the Cherokee Heritage Project Page